Altana AG (styled as ALTANA) is a German chemical company headquartered in Wesel. It was created in 1977, as a result of spinning off divisions from the Varta Group.[3] The first CEO was Herbert Quandt.
The group comprises the divisions BYK (coating additives and instruments), Eckart (metal effect pigments and metallic printing inks), Elantas (insulation materials for the electrical and electronics industries) and Actega (coatings and sealant compounds for the packaging industry).
The Altana Group has 58 production facilities and 67 service and research laboratories worldwide. In 2025, the company, with around 8,176 employees, posted revenues of over €3 billion.[4]
History
Altana's roots go back to 1873, when Heinrich Byk founded the chemicals factory Dr. Heinrich Byk Chemische Fabrik in Oranienburg. The company grew, and in 1931, it was renamed BYK-Gulden Lomberg. In 1941, majority control of the company was acquired by AFA (Akkumulatoren-Fabrik AG) which was renamed VARTA in 1962. In 1977, VARTA was split into three companies, one of which was Altana.[5]